Automatic releasing apparatus for couplers of railway vehicles

ABSTRACT

The automatic releasing apparatus for couplers of railway vehicles comprises a circuit-like travelling guide rail positioned above a rail system and a number of robots suspending from the guide rail, each having automatic releasing mechanism for the couplers. Couplers of railway vehicles are adapted to send out the robots one by one by conforming the sending out speed to the speed of the railway vehicles so as to pull out locking cotters automatically by means of the releasing mechanisms of respective robots, and to restore the cotters to their starting position by moving the releasing apparatus along the travelling guide rail.

United States Patent 11 1 Murato et al. [45] Aug. 7, 1973 AUTOMATIC RELEASING APPARATUS 1,028,531 6/1912 Blaettnar 213 211 FOR COUPLERS OF RAILWAY VEHICLES 2,283,731 5/1942 Goss 213/215 3,037,461 6/1962 Barry 104/18 1 lnvenmrsr Kenichi Murillo, Yokohama; Yawn 3,483,829 12/1969 Barry 104/13 Muruyama, Tokyo; Mitsuro Wakao, Urawu; Shogo Takalmshl; l-llsao m both of Tokyo all of japan Primary Examiner- -Drayton E. Hoffman [73] Assignees: Japanese National Railways; Attorney Saul James Knyabakogyokabushlkikalsha, Tokyo, Japan [57] ABSTRACT [22] F1led: Dec. 27, 1971 [21] Appl' NOJ 212,320 The automatic releasing apparatus for couplers of railway vehicles comprises a c1rcu1t-l1ke travelling gulde rail positioned above a rail system and a number of ro- Foreign Applicatlon Prlorlty Data bots suspending from the guide rail, each having auto- Dec. 26, 1970 Japan 45/118759 matic releasing mechanism for the couplers.

Couplers of railway vehicles are adapted to send out [52] U.S. CI 213/211, 213/215, 213/219 the robots one by one by conforming the sending out [51] 1111. C1. B61g 3/08 Speed to the Speed of the railway vehicles so as to pull [58] Field of Search 213/211, 215, 219; out locking cutters automatically b means f the 104/18, 25 releasing mechanisms of respective robots, and to restore the cotters to their starting position by moving [56] References cued the releasing apparatus along the travelling guide rail.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 566,398 8/1896 Hyde 213/211 11 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDABB 1197a sum a or 5 FIG. 2

PAIENIEflAuc ma SHEET 5 0F 6 AUI AUTOMATIC RELEASING APPARATUS FOR COUPLERS OF RAILWAY VEHICLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automatic releasing apparatus for couplers of railway vehicles which is adapted to automatically pull out locking cotters from couplers of railway vehicles running in coupled or connected condition, and more particularly to such releasing apparatus which is adapted to pull out, in a marshalling operation of various rolling stocks in a hump yard or marshalling yard, the locking cotters one by one from particular couplers of railway vehicles which are selected on the basis of their destination and sent into the hump yard by a pushing locomotive so as to make the railway vehicles separate from each other.

Modern hump yards are provided with various types of automatic control equipment such as detachable teletype facsimile telegraph and computers, automatic marshalling devices and car retarders whose purpose is to improve the economy, raise the efficiency, reduce the labor required and improve the security of the marshalling operation of rolling stocks. At present, however, the automatic control equipment is poorly utilized. The information pertaining to coupling orders, kinds of cars, car numbers, destinations and cargo weights transmitted from, for example, the detachable teletype facsimile telegraph are set up into a particular program which is inserted into a computer. Each rail point is changed and controlled according to the output signal of the computer and simultaneously each freight car running down from the hump is retarded automatically by means of a retarder or the like until it reaches a fixed speed so as to classify the cars according to destination.

However, the operations to be carried out before the classifying operation mentioned above, such as separating or cutting operation of couplers and brake hoses of freight cars to be classified, are not automatized and at present are still carried out manually.

Naturally, the automatic classifying operation of freight cars, using the automatic control equipment mentioned above, is useful in contrast with the conventional manual method of classifying operation of the freight cars employing and the efficiency of the classifying operation is thereby improved, labor is saved and human injuries are decreased, since the previous of hand controlling the many rail points according to a train organization chart, or of controlling the speed of each running car can be carried out without the workers getting on the car.

If the separating or releasing operations of the couplers and the brake hoses of the freight cars are carried out automatically, the beneficial effect of this automation is doubled. Of these latter operations, the separating of operation of brake hoses may be carried out safely while a train is standing on an arrival line.

However, it is impossible to pull the cotters from the couplersof the standing train. If the cotters are pulled out and the standing train is pushed toward the hump, shocks occur between the freight cars and the pulledout cotters will fall back into the couplers and reconnect the cars with each other. Therefore, it is necessary for workers to run back and forth along the travelling train and pull out the cotters one by one from the couplers which are to be released according to a train marshalling chart. The running speed of the train along the rail to the hump must be adjusted to conform to the running ability of the workers. For this reason, the running speed ofa train along the rail to the hump can not be increased over 3 km/hour. Such employment of workers is not preferable from the points of view of efficiency of the classifying operation as well as human labor and dangerous working conditions.

It is to be clearly understood that if the pulling out operation of the cotters of the couplers were to be carried out automatically, the efficiency of the classifying operation of the freight cars would be increased considerably and the labor-saving and safety effects would be pronounced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful automatic releasing apparatus for the couplers of railway vehicles, which is adapted to select particular couplers of rolling stock during the running thereof and can pull out the cotters of the locking couplers automatically.

Therefore, the automatic releasing apparatus according to the present invention includes a travelling or running guide rail arranged in a circuit-like shape above the train rail system, a number of robots equipped with automatic releasing mechanisms for couplers, running along and suspended from the guide rail, positioning and starting means locking the robots at fixed positions and starting them one by one at desired or suitable intervals while conforming the starting ratio to the speed of the train, and return means restoring used robots to the original starting position.

According to the new apparatus of this invention, it is possible to pull out the locking cotters of the couplers to be released and keep the couplers in separable condition.

By replacing the automatic releasing mechanism mounted on the robots by another one, the robots can be adapted to various kinds of couplers.

The above and other objects, advantages and functions of the invention will be readily understood by the following description of the embodiment, by way of example, in conjunction with the accompanying drawmgs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is general perspective view showing the automatic coupler releasing apparatus according to the present invention installed in a freight car pushing up portion of a hump yard;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the automatic releasing apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view showing a robot of the invention;

FIGA is a sideview of the robot;

FIG. 5 is a detailed perspective view showing a positioning device of the automatic releasing apparatus; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing an accelerating device of the releasing apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

The automatic releasing apparatus for couplers of railway vehicles 10 is shown in FIG. 1 as being installed in a freight car pushing up portion of a hump yard.

According to the invention, the automatic releasing apparatus includes a travelling guide rail 11 of circuitlike shape, a number of robots l2 suspended from the guide rail and movable along the rail, a positioning device 13 for locking the robots 12 at predetermined positions, supplying to them compressed air and electric power and starting them off along the their paths, an accelerating apparatus 14 to accelerate the robots so as to disengage them from the cars or vehicles, and direction changing apparatus 15, 16 and a returning apparatus 17 controlling the returning movement of the used or task-finished robots toward the original starting position thereof. All the apparatus is adapted to co-operate in order to pull out the cotters from the couplers to be released or separated from each other, and said apparatus is adapted to co-operate in order to move the robots 12 along a travelling guide rail 11, whereby the cutters are pulled out from the couplers to be released or separated from each other.

In this embodiment, the travelling guide rail 11 is arranged along and over the train travelling rail 19 which is positioned on the ascending ground of the hump 18, and settled and supported by a number of supporting frames 20.

The purpose of the guide rail 11 is to guide the robots 12 which are suspended from the rail. The guide rail is formed in circuit-like shape by means of I-beams; most of the forward track (in FIG. 1) of the rail 11; on this side of FIG. 1 is arranged in parallel maintaining a parallel relation to the ascending ground or portion of the hump 18. Only the starting end for the robots, shown in the right of FIG. 1, is raised so as to constitute a descent portion 11a for letting the robots down, whereby the robots 12 located at restored to the descent portion 11a move automatically into the starting position by the force of gravity.

The return track for the robots 12 positioned in the rear of the forward tracks, is arranged in a substantially horizontal position.

In this embodiment, each robot 12 comprises, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a slant arm 21 constituted in a parallel-rink shape. A main arm 22 is fixed on the slant arm, with a releasing arm 23 protruding integrally and downwardly from the main arm, a guide arm 24 protruding integrally and upwardly from the slant arm 21, and travelling portions 25 being fixed on the top end of the slant arm. Said slant arm 21 and said travelling portions 25 are connected with each other by hinges 26 and the slant arm is slantable freely and sidewards relative to the travelling portions, as shown in the dotted line of FIG. 4.

The travelling portions 25 have a set of travelling rollers including pairs of two travelling rollers 27 arranged at the upper side, and a the lower side and supporting roller 28 arranged so as to make a right angle with respect to the travelling rollers 27. Said two travelling rollers are arranged oppositely and mounted on the right and the left sides of the slant arm 21 by means of the hinges 26. Thereby, the travelling guide rail 11 can be located between the rollers 27, 28 and the robots 12 is travelled along the guide rail.

The main arm 22 constituting a part of a robot 12 is equipped with a lock raising arm 30 moving up and down along a guide rod 29. A finger arm 31 is suspended rockably from the lock raising arm 30 by pin 32. The finger arm 31 and a rock releasing arm 23 extending integrally and downwardly from the lower end of the main arm 22, co-operate so as to pull out the locking cotters 35 of freight car couplers and they constitute an important portion of the robot. With regard to said important portion, from the end of the lock releasing arm 23, a pushing plate 36 is extended to the right side or the pushing plate is fixed, through a guide rod 37, to a lever restrainer 38 movableup and down a finger 39 is extended integrally from the lower end of the finger arm 31 to the rear side of it. The lever restrainer 38 is to engage with the releasing lever 40 of couplers 34 and pushes up the lever gradually in order to release the lock and make the releasing lever 40 pivotablc. The finger arm 31 is revolved around the pin 32 and the finger 39 is pushed into a lock raiser 41, then the finger 39 and the lock raiser 41 together with the lock raising arm 30 are raised along the main arm 22, so that the finger 39 hooks and pulls up the locking cotters 35 of couplers 34.

For the purpose of pulling up the cotters, located between a portion of said pushing plate 36 and said lever retainer 38, there are provided a lock releasing cylinder 42 for moving the lever retainer up and down and a solenoid valve 43 for operating the cylinder 42 between an arm 44 extending from the lock raising arm 30 and said finger arm 31 there are provided, a finger cylinder 45 for revolving the finger arm around the pin 32 and a solenoid valve 46 for operating the cylinder 45. Also, between the main arm 22 and the lock raising arm 30 there are provided, a lock raising cylinder 47 for moving the lock raising arm up and down and a solenoid valve 48 for operating the cylinder 47.

An air tank 49 functioning as a drive-pressure source of the lock releasing cylinder 42, the finger cylinder 45 and the lock raising cylinder 47, a solenoid controlling mechanism 50 operating solenoid valves 43, 46 and 48, respectively, and a battery are mounted over the slant arm 21 and are connected with each other by a hose 52 and an electric wire.

In order to operate in a regular sequence the cylinder 42, the finger cylinder 45 and the lock raising cylinder 47, limit switches 54, and 56 are mounted in front of the pushing plate 36 and under the lever restrainer 38, on the portion of the lock raising arm 30 opposing the finger arm 31, and on the travelling portion 25, this when the limit switch 54 in front of the pushing plate 36 is pushed and closed, a starting signal is transmitted initially from the solenoid controlling mechanism 50 to the solenoid valve 43 so as to operate and change the solenoid valve and extend the lock releasing cylinder 42 and compress the lever restrainer 38 upon the releasing lever 40 of a vehicle 33. The limit switch 55 mounted under the restrainer 38 is closed and the releasing lever 40 is released, and the closing of the limit switch 55 causes a signal to be transmitted from the solenoid controlling mechanism 50 to the solenoid valve 46, so that the finger cylinder 45 is extended and a tinger 39 is simultaneously thrust in the lock raiser 41 of the coupler 34.

An order signal from the limit switch 56 closed by means of the finger arm 31 is transmitted from the solenoid controlling mechanism 50 to the solenoid valve 48 so as to contract the lock raising cylinder 47 and raise the lock raising arm 30 together with the finger arm 31 and, at the same time, the locking cotter 35 is extracted from the coupler 34 by means of the finger 39. When a robot 12 has travelled to a fixed position and the limit switch 57 mounted on the travelling portion 25 is closed by means of a protrusion (not shown) attached which is, for example, on the travelling guide rail 11, a reset signal is transmitted to the solenoid valves 43, 46 and 48 through the solenoid controlling mechanism 50 so as to operate and restore the cylinders 42, 45 and 47 and put back the lever restrainer 38,.the finger 39 and the lock raising arm 30 into the original position.

Referring to FIG. 1, a positioning apparatus 13 mounted oppositely to the descent portion 11a positioned on the right of the outward rail of the travelling guide rail 11 comprises, as shown in FIG. 5, a first cylinder 60 having a stopper piece 59 functioning to engage and stop the positioning stopper 58 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) fixed on the robot l2 and hold it at a predetermined position (starting position), a solenoid cylinder 62 having a similar stopper piece 61, a third cylinder 64 having a stopper piece 63, a fourth cylinder 66 having a stopper piece 65, an operating cylinder 69 having a nozzle 67 and a terminal 68 for supplying compressed air and electric power to the air tank 49 and the battery 51 of the robot 12, being locked by means of the stopper piece 61 of the second cylinder 62. An accelerating cylinder 72 has at the end thereof a cylinder 71 provided with a pushing piece 70 so asto push the released robot 12 from the stopper piece 59 of the first cylinder 60 along the moving direction. The cylinders are respectively adapted to operate in a fixed sequence by means of an air hydraulic power source 73 and an electric power source 74, a cylinder controlling apparatus 75 and limit switches 76 87.

When a starting signal is transmitted from the outside to the controlling apparatus 75, the first cylinder 60 is initially contracted to withdraw the stopper piece 59 and release the robot l2 locked thereby. During withdrawing the stopper piece, the limit switch 76 on the first cylinder 60 is closed and a signal is generated. The signal is transmitted from the cylinder controlling apparatus 75 to the accelerating cylinder 72 so as to extend the cylinder and push the robot 12 through the pushing piece 70 along the moving direction.

When the accelerating cylinder 72 is extended to it's maximum, it closes the limit switch 77 positioned on the travelling guide rail 11, whereby a signal is generated to contract the cylinder 72. When the accelerating cylinder 72 is contracted to its maximum, the limit switch 78 is closed and a signal is generated. The signal is transmitted to the first cylinder 60 and the cylinder 71, so that they are extended and contracted to push the stopper piece 59 and withdraw the pushing piece 70. When the first cylinder 60 and the cylinder 71 are extended and contracted to the maximum thereof so as to close the limit switches 79, 80 mounted on them and generate signals, the signals are transmitted to the operating cylinder 69 and as the result of this theoperating cylinder is contracted and the pressure-air supplying nozzle67 and the electricity supplying terminal 68 are separated from the robot 12. When the cylinder 69 is contracted to its maximum, the limit switch 81 mounted on it is closed and generates a signal which is transmitted to the second cylinder 62 so as to contract it and withdraw the stopper piece 61. Consequently, the robot 12 locked by means of the stopper piece 61 is released so as to travel toward the stopper piece 59 along the descent portion 11a of the travelling guide rail.

When such travelling robot l2 strikes the stopper piece 59, the limit switch 82 mounted on the stopper piece is closed and a signal is generated. The signal is transmitted to the second cylinder 62 and the cylinder 71 so as to extend them and push out the stopper piece 61 and the pushing piece 70. As the cylinders 62, 71 are extended to the maximum thereof, the limit switches 83, 84 mounted on them are closed and a signal is generated.

The signal orders the contracting operation of the third cylinder 64 so as to release the robot 12 locked by the stopper piece 63 and drive each robot 12 toward the stopper piece 61 of the second cylinder 62 along the descent portion 11a of the travelling guide rail 11. In this case, only the leading robot 12 travels until it is locked by the stopper piece 61 and other following robots 12 are halfway locked by the stopper piece 65 of the fourth cylinder 66.

When the leading robot 12 strikes the stopper piece 61 of the second cylinder 62, the limit switch 85 is closed and a signal is generated and then the signalreceiving third cylinder 64 and the signal-receiving cylinder 69 start their extending motion. The stopper piece 63 is, thus, pushed by the extending third cylinder 64 and the nozzle 67 and the terminal 68 are pressed onto the air tank 49 and the battery 51 by extending cylinder 69, so as to charge the robot with compressed air and electricity.

When the third cylinder 64 is also extended to its limit, the limit switch 86 mounted thereon is closed and a signal is generated, thereby the fourth cylinder 66 is contracted and the stopper piece 65 is withdrawn, so that the following robots 12 travel along the descent portion 11a until it is locked by the stopper piece 63 of the third cylinder 64. When the lea-ding robot 12 strikes the stopper piece 63 and the limit switch 87 is closed to generate a signal, the fourth cylinder 66 is extended so as to insert the stopper piece 65 between the robot locked directly by means of the stopper piece 63 of said third cylinder 64 and the next rolbot 12. In this way, every time a starting signal for robot 12 is transmitted from the outside to the cylinder controlling apparatus 75, such a sequential operation is repeated so as to send out the robots 12 one by one.

On the other way, the accelerating apparatus 14 positioned as shown in FIG. 1 at the left end of the outward rail of the travelling guide rail 11 comprises a guide 88 fixed to the guide rail as shown in FIG. 6, a frame 89 movable along the guide 88, and an operating cylinder 90 arranged between the guide 88 and the frame 89. The frame 89 has pulleys 91, 92 at the each end, and an endless belt 93 is trained around the pulleys, the belt 93 being adapted to be driven at all the times by means of a hydraulic motor 95 and a hydraulic source 94 positioned at the side of the pulleys 91.

Additionally, on the surface of the endless belt 93, a plurality of protruded portions 96 are arranged at regular intervals so as to engage with the stoppers 58 of the robots l2 and push them. When the robot 1-2 advances toward the accelerating apparatus 14 and the stopper 58 is made engageable with the protruded portions 96 of the belt 93, the limit switch 97 positioned on the travelling guide rail 11 is closed and a signal is generated. Accordingly, the operating cylinder 90 extends and pushes the robot 12 quickly along a fixed distance by using the frame 89 and the protruded portions 96 of the belt 93, and when the robot 12 reaches the end of the accelerating apparatus 14 and the stopper 58 is detached from the belt, another limit switch 98 positioned on the travelling guide rail 11 is closed by the robot and a signal is generated to order contraction of the operating cylinder 90 by means of the hydraulic source 94 and restoration of the belt 93 together with the frame 89 to the original position.

Consequently, when the robot is advanced to the accelerating apparatus 14 and the limit switch 97 mounted at the travelling guide rail 11 is closed, the operating cylinder 90 begins its extending operation so as to push on the belt 93 together with the frame 89 and push the stopper 58 of the robot 12 through the protruded portion 96. Accordingly, the robot is accelerated in proportion to the extending speed of the operating cylinder 90.

In order to put the robot l2 separated from the accelerating apparatus 14 back to the original position, the direction-changing apparatuses (l5, 16) are positioned as shown in FIG. 1 at the right and left ends of the travelling guide rail 11 and the returning apparatus 17 is positioned at the return side.

The direction-changing apparatus 15, 16 comprises rotary actuators 99, 100 cyclically moved by means of the hydraulic sources 94, 73 for the accelerating apparatus 14 and the positioning apparatus 13, and return arms 101, 102 extending from the actuators 99, 100.

Owing to the function of the direction-changing apparatus 15, when the limit switch 98 mounted on the side of the travelling guide rail 11 is closed, the rotary actuator 99 starts rotating and the robot 12 sent out from the accelerating apparatus 14 is pushed by the return arm 101 and sent into the returning apparatus 17 positioned at the return rail and then, the robot is put automatically back to its original position. When, by means of the direction-changing apparatus 16, the robot 12 is advanced to the limit switch 103 mounted on the side of the travelling guide rail 11 so as to close the switch 103, the return arm 102 as well as the rotary actuator 100 starts rotating and the robot 12 is sent out to the top of the descending portion 11a.

The return arm 102 is then returned automatically to the original position. Also, the returning apparatus 17 comprises, in the same way as the belt 93 of said accelerating apparatus 14, pulleys 104, 105 arranged at the right and left, an endless belt 107 having protruded portions 106 stretching between the pulleys. The bydraulic motor 108 coupled to the right pulley 105 is adapted to provide rotary drive all the time by means of the hydraulic source 73 positioned at the side of the positioning apparatus 13, whereby the protruded portion 106 of the belt 107 hooks the stopper 58 of the robot 12 sent out of the left direction-changing apparatus l and the stopper is carried to the right directionchanging apparatus 16.

The robot 12 sent out of the accelerating apparatus l4strikes the limit switch 98 so as to close it, thereby the robot is sent to the entrance of the returning apparatus 17 by means of the left direction-changing apparatus and then sent to the right by means of the belt 107 of the returning apparatus 17. When the robot at last hits the limit switch 103 and closes it, the robot is sent out to the top of the descending portion 11a positioned at the right end of the outward side of the travelling guide rail 11 and moved to the starting position along the descending portion 11a so as to travel automatically.

In order to bend the robot 12 at the hinge 26 thereof and start the movement of the robot, keeping the bending condition thereof, to straighten the bent robot gradually and insert it between the-coupled vehicles 33, and to bend the robot again at the hinge 26 after said robot pulls out the locking cotter 35 from the couplers 34 of the vehicles and leave it from the coupler, guide rails 109, 1 10 are mounted along the travelling guide rail 11, opposed to the positioning apparatus 13 and the accelerating apparatus 14. When a guide roller 111 positioned at the end of the guide arm 24 of the robot 12 is contracted to and separated from the guide rails 109, 110, the slant arm 21 is bent at the hinge 26 or straightened as shown in FIG. 2. It is desirable that when the slant arm 21 is bent, it protrudes from the clearance limit.

The automatic coupler releasing apparatus 10 constructed according to the invention, operates upon couplers of running vehicles as follows.

When a train is sent to a hump yard and the couplers of the vehicle to be separated reach the predetermined position, a signal is transmitted from the outside to the cylinder controlling apparatus of the positioning apparatus 13 whereupon the positioning apparatus 13 performs said sequence operation and sends out the robots 12 one by one.

In order to send out the robot one by one, a control center may generate a starting signal for the robots and transmit said signal to the cylinder controlling apparatus 75, every time a coupler to be released reaches to the predetermined position. But, in a modern hump yard, a computer system is used to operate and change each rail point and to automatically control the speed of the vehicles running from the hump. In such a case, a particular program is easily made by the computer so as to transmit automatically and one by one a robot starting signal to the cylinder control apparatus 75. Then, all such robots sent out one by one follow a particular operating manner and withdraw the locking cotters of each coupler to be released. Accordingly, the operation of the robot may be clearly understood.

When the operation of the robot is fully described, the whole operation of the robot system may be clearly understood.

When the robot starting signal is transmitted to the cylinder controlling apparatus 75 of the positioning apparatus 13, said first cylinder 60 is contracted to withdraw the stopper piece 59, and also the accelerating cylinder 72 begins its extending movement to push out the leading robot 12 along the travelling guide rail 11.

In this case, while rolling stock 33 is running ordinarily at a fixed speed, the stationary robot 12 is pushed by the accelerating cylinder 72 and begins its movement. It is necessary that the robot 12 is pushed out, before the coupler 34 to be separated stands side by side with the robot 12. At the time the robot is accelerated to the speed of the running vehicle 33, both are stood side by side and the guide roller 11 of the robot is adapted to come off the guide 109. Thus, as the robot 12 comes off the guide 109, the bending slant arm 21 is straightened and inserted into the coupler to be separated.

When the accelerating cylinder 72 is extended to its maximum, the robot has lost its accelerating force and its speed thereof is decreased rapidly, so that the vehi- Also, the position apparatus 13 is moved in a fixed sequence as described above and sent to waiting robots 12 one by one or stands ready for receiving a next starting signal.

The robot 12 receiving a sequence operation starting signal extends the lock releasing cylinder 42 so as to push up the releasing lever 40 of the vehicles 33 by means of the lever restrainer 38 and keep the lever in a revolving condition. Then, the finger cylinder 45 is extended so as to insert the finger 39 into the lock raiser 41 of the coupler 34 and the lock raising cylinder 47 is contracted so as to raise the finger 39 up and withdraw the locking cotter 35. The robot 12, keeping the cotter released, is pushed through the pushing plate 36 by means of the vehicle 33 and moved lcftwardly together with the vehicle along the travelling guide rail 11. Depending on the condition, a twisting force may be exerted onto the robot 12 when only the force of the vehicle is applied to the pushing plate 36 of the robot, whereby its smooth operation is being apt to be prevented. In such a case, it is preferable that a returning apparatus such as an endless belt arranged along the return side of said travelling guide rail 11 is positioned along the outward side so as to apply a pushing force onto the upper portion of the robot and drive it smoothly. Therefore, as the robot 12 is pushed by the vehicle 33 and reaches to the left end of the guide rail 11, the limit switch 57 arranged at a travelling portion 25 of the robot 12 is initially closed by the protrusion of the travelling guide rail 11 and a signal is created, then the reset signal is transmitted into the robot l2 and the lever restrainer 38 and the finger 39 are separated from the releasing lever 40 and the lock raiser 41 so as to restore the original position and relieve the force pulling out the locking cotter 35. In this way, the couplers 34 of each vehicle 33 are jostled with each other so that it is prevented that the locking cotter 35 once pulled out of the coupler is dropped into the coupler 34 to lock it again.

When the robot 12 advances to the accelerating apparatus l4 and the limit switch 97 is closed, the operating cylinder 90 of the accelerating apparatus 14 is extended and pushes out the belt 93 together with the frame 89, and also the protrusion 96 of the belt 93 hooks the stopper 58 of the robot 12 and pushes it. Therefore, if the belt 93 rotates at the same speed as that of the vehicle 33, the robot 12 travels at a greater speed than that of the vehicle 33 by the extending speed ofthe operating cylinder 90.

As the result of this, the pushing plate 36 of the robot 12 is separated from the end of the vehicle 33 and then the guide roller 111 of the robot l2 strikes the guide 110 so as to bend the slant arm 21, whereby the robot 12 is moved transversely from between vehicles.

When the robot 12 is sent and travelled by means of the belt 93 of the accelerating apparatus 14, the robot passes the limit switch 98 positioned along the travelling guide rail 11 and the switch is closed, whereby the operating cylinder 90 begins its contracting movement so as to restore the belt to the original position through the frame 89. Also, the left direction-changing apparatus functions to push the robot 12 through the return arm 101 and carry the robot to the returning apparatus. Then, the robot is transferred rightwardly by means of the belt 107 ofthe returning apparatus 17 and reaches to the right direction-changing apparatus, so as to close the limit switch 103 positioned at the travelling guide rail 11. Therefore, the return arm 102 in the right direction-changing apparatus 16 operates to carry the robot 12 to the top of the descent portion 11a.

The robot automatically travels therefrom along the descent portion and joines with the last robot of waiting-robot group at the starting position.

Every time the leading robot 12 is sent out one by one, the waiting robots are moved gradually toward the starting position. The moving robots are first engaged with or locked by the stopper piece 65 of the fourth cylinder 66 and then the stopper piece 63 of the third cylinder 64. When the robot reaches and engages with, or looks the stopper piece 61 of the second cylinder 62, the robot is supplied with compressed air and electric power, and then travels to the starting position to engage with the stopper 59 of the first cylinder so as to withdraw the locking cotter 35 from the couplers 34.

While the present invention has been shown as one adapted to conventional automatic couplers, wherein the releasing lever 40 is raised and revolved so as to withdraw the locking cotter 35 by means of the lock raiser 41, it is to be clearly understood that the present invention is also adaptable to other type of couplers on condition that the automatic releasing mechanism of the couplers employed in each of the robots 12 is changed. Particularly, in the case of the type of coupler releasing mechanism employing a new developed releasing button or releasing actuator, the bending mechanism of the robot is abandoned on condition that the operating portions of the actuator or the like project out of the contour line of the vehicle.

If a self-travelling mechanism and a speed controlling mechanism are assembled in a robot, the accelerating mechanism housed in the positioning apparatus, the accelerating apparatus and the direction-changing apparatus positioned along the travelling guide rail, and the return apparatus are all abandoned. Therefore, the locking cotter 35 is withdrawn from the couplers of each vehicle to be separated by means of the robot 12 so as to let the vehicle separate from each other. Thereby, the coupler releasing work is carried out automatically, in consequence the dangerous human works are avoided and the marshalling operation efficiency is developed owing to increasing the train pushing up speed by twice or three times the conventional speed.

While certain form of the invention has been shown for purpose of illustration, it is to be clearly understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic releasing apparatus for releasing the couplers of railway vehicles, comprising a travel rail for vehicles which are to be uncoupled;

a guide rail forming a continuous loop mounted upwardly of said travel rail and having a guide rail portion extending along the latter;

a plurality of robot units suspended from said guide rail for travel along the same;

triggering means for triggering sequential movement of said robot units along said guide rail portion when vehicles to be uncoupled are travelling-on said travel rail; and

releasing means on the respective robot units for releasing the couplers of vehicles on said travelrail during movement of the respective robot units in unison with the travelling vehicles.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said guide rail comprises a holding portion where robot units are held in readiness for travel along said guide rail portion; and further comprising positioning means for holding said robot units at said holding portion and associated with said triggering means for releasing said robot units sequentially in response to operation of said triggering means.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said positioning means comprises locking means for sequentially locking each of said robot units at said holding portion in a first and a second stand-by position and thereupon in a release position.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, said releasing means of each of said robot units comprising energy storage means; and further comprising energysupplying means for supplying energy to said energy storage means during locking of the respective robot unit at one of said stand-by positions.

5. An automatic releasing apparatus for releasing the couplers of railway vehicles, comprising a travel rail for vehicles which are to be uncoupled;

a guide rail forming a continuous loop mounted upwardly of said travel rail and having a guide rail portion extending along the latter;

a plurality of robot units suspended from said guide rail for travel along the same from a starting position;

triggering means for triggering sequential movement of said robot units along said guide rail portion when vehicles to be uncoupled are travelling on said travel rail;

releasing means on the respective robot units for releasing the couplers of vehicles on said travel rail during movement of the respective robot units in unison with the travelling vehicles; and

return means for returning said robot units along said guide rail to said starting position.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, said guide rail portion having longitudinally spaced end regions one of which is spaced from said starting position in the direction of travel; and wherein said return means comprises a direction-changing member arranged in at least said one region for changing the direction of travel of the respective robot units in response to arrival thereof at said one end region.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said guide rail comprises a holding portion where robot units are held in readiness for travel along said guide rail portion; and further comprising positioning means for holding said robot units at said holding portion and associated with said triggering means for releasing said robot units sequentially in response to operation of said triggering means.

8. An automatic releasing apparatus for releasing the couplers of railway vehicles, comprising a travel rail for vehicles which are to be uncoupled;

a guide rail forming a continuous loop mounted upwardly of said travel rail and having a guide rail portion extending along the latter;

a plurality of robot units suspended from said guide rail for travel along the same from a starting position;

triggering means for triggering sequential movement of said robot units along said guide rail portion when vehicles to be uncoupled are travelling on said travel rail;

accelerating means for accelerating the triggered robot units to the travelling speed of said vehicles; and

releasing means on the respective robot units for releasing the couplers of vehicles on said travel rail during movement of the respective robot units in unison with the travelling vehicles.

9. An automatic releasing apparatus for releasing the couplers of railway vehicles, comprising a travel rail for vehicles which are to be uncoupled;

a guide rail forming a continuous loop mounted above said travel rail and having a guide rail portion which extends along the latter, and a holding portion ahead of said guide rail portion;

a plurality of robot units suspended from said guide rail for travel along the same from a starting position at said holding portion;

triggering means for triggering sequential movement of said robot units along said guide rail portion from said starting position when vehicles to be uncoupled are travelling on said travel rail;

inserting means for inserting the respective robot units between, and subsequently withdrawing them from, railway vehicles to be uncoupled;

releasing means on the respective robot units for releasing the couplers of said railway vehicles when the robot unit is inserted between them;

accelerating means for accelerating each robot unit relative to said vehicles after the couplers thereof are released; and

return means for returning each robot unit along said continuous loop to said holding position and said starting position.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said accelerating means comprises an endless belt extending along said travel rail and advancing in the same direction as said vehicles and motion-transmitting means for transmitting motion between said endless belt and said robot units.

11. A method of automatically uncoupling railway vehicles, comprising the steps of advancing coupled railway vehicles on a track; moving a robot unit from a starting position over a portion of a guide rail extending along the track, in unison with the travelling vehicles; inserting the robot unit between the travelling vehicles and effecting uncoupling of the same via said robot unit; withdrawing the robot unit from between the now uncoupled travelling vehicles; accelerating the withdrawn robot unit along the guide rail away from the vehicles; and returning the robot unit over another portion of the guide rail to said starting position.

a s t a 

1. An automatic releasing apparatus for releasing the couplers of railway vehicles, comprising a travel rail for vehicles which are to be uncoupled; a guide rail forming a continuous loop mounted upwardly of said travel rail and having a guide rail portion extending along the latter; a plurality of robot units suspended from said guide rail for travel along the same; triggering means for triggering sequential movement of said robot units along said guide rail portion when vehicles to be uncoupled are travelling on said travel rail; and releasing means on the respective robot units for releasing the couplers of vehicles on said travel rail during movement of the respective robot units in unison with the travelling vehicles.
 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said guide rail comprises a holding portion where robot units are held in readiness for travel along said guide rail portion; and further comprising positioning means for holDing said robot units at said holding portion and associated with said triggering means for releasing said robot units sequentially in response to operation of said triggering means.
 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said positioning means comprises locking means for sequentially locking each of said robot units at said holding portion in a first and a second stand-by position and thereupon in a release position.
 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, said releasing means of each of said robot units comprising energy storage means; and further comprising energy-supplying means for supplying energy to said energy storage means during locking of the respective robot unit at one of said stand-by positions.
 5. An automatic releasing apparatus for releasing the couplers of railway vehicles, comprising a travel rail for vehicles which are to be uncoupled; a guide rail forming a continuous loop mounted upwardly of said travel rail and having a guide rail portion extending along the latter; a plurality of robot units suspended from said guide rail for travel along the same from a starting position; triggering means for triggering sequential movement of said robot units along said guide rail portion when vehicles to be uncoupled are travelling on said travel rail; releasing means on the respective robot units for releasing the couplers of vehicles on said travel rail during movement of the respective robot units in unison with the travelling vehicles; and return means for returning said robot units along said guide rail to said starting position.
 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, said guide rail portion having longitudinally spaced end regions one of which is spaced from said starting position in the direction of travel; and wherein said return means comprises a direction-changing member arranged in at least said one region for changing the direction of travel of the respective robot units in response to arrival thereof at said one end region.
 7. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said guide rail comprises a holding portion where robot units are held in readiness for travel along said guide rail portion; and further comprising positioning means for holding said robot units at said holding portion and associated with said triggering means for releasing said robot units sequentially in response to operation of said triggering means.
 8. An automatic releasing apparatus for releasing the couplers of railway vehicles, comprising a travel rail for vehicles which are to be uncoupled; a guide rail forming a continuous loop mounted upwardly of said travel rail and having a guide rail portion extending along the latter; a plurality of robot units suspended from said guide rail for travel along the same from a starting position; triggering means for triggering sequential movement of said robot units along said guide rail portion when vehicles to be uncoupled are travelling on said travel rail; accelerating means for accelerating the triggered robot units to the travelling speed of said vehicles; and releasing means on the respective robot units for releasing the couplers of vehicles on said travel rail during movement of the respective robot units in unison with the travelling vehicles.
 9. An automatic releasing apparatus for releasing the couplers of railway vehicles, comprising a travel rail for vehicles which are to be uncoupled; a guide rail forming a continuous loop mounted above said travel rail and having a guide rail portion which extends along the latter, and a holding portion ahead of said guide rail portion; a plurality of robot units suspended from said guide rail for travel along the same from a starting position at said holding portion; triggering means for triggering sequential movement of said robot units along said guide rail portion from said starting position when vehicles to be uncoupled are travelling on said travel rail; inserting meanS for inserting the respective robot units between, and subsequently withdrawing them from, railway vehicles to be uncoupled; releasing means on the respective robot units for releasing the couplers of said railway vehicles when the robot unit is inserted between them; accelerating means for accelerating each robot unit relative to said vehicles after the couplers thereof are released; and return means for returning each robot unit along said continuous loop to said holding position and said starting position.
 10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said accelerating means comprises an endless belt extending along said travel rail and advancing in the same direction as said vehicles and motion-transmitting means for transmitting motion between said endless belt and said robot units.
 11. A method of automatically uncoupling railway vehicles, comprising the steps of advancing coupled railway vehicles on a track; moving a robot unit from a starting position over a portion of a guide rail extending along the track, in unison with the travelling vehicles; inserting the robot unit between the travelling vehicles and effecting uncoupling of the same via said robot unit; withdrawing the robot unit from between the now uncoupled travelling vehicles; accelerating the withdrawn robot unit along the guide rail away from the vehicles; and returning the robot unit over another portion of the guide rail to said starting position. 